SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

The collection consists of case files for Presidential speeches and other remarks that Denison wrote or helped write from May 1976 to January 1977. Included are Denison's notes, speech drafts and reference materials for a variety of speeches, including President Ford's Republican Convention acceptance speech and Bicentennial speeches.

QUANTITY
1.0 linear feet (ca. 2,000 pages)

DONOR
George H. Denison (accession number 91-NLF-041)

ACCESS
Open.

COPYRIGHT
Mr. Denison donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain.

Prepared by Kristin Roberts, August 1992
[s:\bin\findaid\denison, george - papers.doc]

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

George H. Denison

December 18, 1934 - Born in Detroit, Michigan

1957 - B.A. in Political Science, University of Michigan

1957-61 - M.A. in Political Science, University of Michigan

1961 - LL.B., Detroit College of Law

1960-61 - Assistant credit manager, Detroit Mortgage and Realty Co., Michigan

1961-62 - Legal assistant to National Labor Relations Board member Philip Ray Rodgers

1962-65 - Associate minority counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare

1965 - Attorney in private practice and free lance author

1966-68 - Contributing writer, Reader's Digest Washington Editorial Office

1968-1976 - Associate editor, Reader's Digest Washington Editorial Office

1976-1977 - Speechwriter for President Gerald R. Ford

INTRODUCTION

The George Denison Papers consist of case files on his speechwriting activities in the White House Office of Editorial Staff between May 1976 and January 1977. During this period Denison shared the speechwriting duties with several other individuals. They were all supervised by Robert Orben, Special Assistant to the President and director of the Editorial Staff.

Many of the speeches produced by Denison dealt with the goals and achievements of the Ford administration during the previous two and a half years. They also focused on the 1976 campaign issues, such as unemployment and national defense. In addition, Denison composed many speeches that were used at award and ceremonial events.

The case file for an individual speech often includes several drafts which were circulated to his superiors, researchers, and appropriate White House and departmental aides for clearance. Also included are personal notes he used to assist in composing speeches and a few large print reading copies of speeches on which the President made his own additions and deletions.

Related Materials (August 1992)
The most important related collection is the Paul Theis and Robert Orben Files (41 feet) which include materials on the organization and operation of the Office of Editorial Staff as well as drafts of many Presidential addresses. Speechwriting materials from early in the administration appear in the White House Central Files Category SP (speeches). Another related collection is the Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Speech File, 1976-77.  (Boxes 1-3, 1.0 linear feet)
Case files containing speeches, speech drafts, notes and memoranda. The materials concern a wide variety of speeches, ranging from President Ford's Republican Convention acceptance speech and the Bicentennial speeches to routine addresses at holiday festivities and award ceremonies.

Chronologically arranged case files.

View container list for this series

CONTAINER LIST

Box 1 - Speech File

• 5/6/76 - Michigan Association of Broadcasters
• 5/12/76 - Michigan - Economic Club of Detroit
• 5/12/76 - Michigan - Shain Park - Birmingham
• 5/14/76 - Tennessee - Memphis Mid - America Mall
• 5/24/76 - California Peace Officers Convention
• 5/31/76 - Memorial Day - Arlington National Cemetery
• 6/6/76 - Golden Age Dinner Drop - By - Cleveland, OH
• 6/17/76 - Statement on Social Security
• 6/22/76 - Jaycees Convention (1) - (2)
• 6/29/76 - Swearing - in of C. Austin Montgomery - Administrator of National Credit Union Administration
• 6/30/76 - Reception for Republican Leaders
• 7/3/76 - Honor America Performance
• 7/4/76 - Bicentennial Speeches
• 7/13/76 - American Field Service - Exchange Students
• 7/14/76 - Briefing to Presidential Spokespersons
• 7/14/76 - Convention of the National Federation of Business Women's Clubs
• 7/20/76 - Young American Medal Winners Award Ceremony
• 7/27/76 - Public Relations World Congress
• 7/31/76 - Yale Law School Group
• 8/15/76 - Convention of the National Medical Association
• 8/19/76 - Republican Convention Acceptance Speech (1) - (2)

Box 2 - Speech File

• 8/24/76 - Vail Meetings on Campaign
• 9/1/76 - National Guard Association
• 9/5/76 - Labor Day Message
• 9/10/76 - National Hispanic Heritage Week - Proclamation Signing
• 9/13/76 - Signing of S.5 - The Government in the Sunshine Act
• 9/14/76 - American Business Volunteers
• 9/15/76 - University of Michigan (1) - (2)
• 9/16/76 - Hispanic Heritage Week: Reception - Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
• 9/27/76 - Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police - Miami, Florida (1) - (3)
• 9/28/76 - Veterans Administration Christmas Show for Hospitalized Veterans
• 10/8/76 - Lawton, Oklahoma
• 10/8/76 - Glendale, California (Includes Stump Speech)
• 10/13/76 - General Revenue Sharing Bill Signing, Yonkers, New York
• 10/15/76 - Farm Speech, Ames, Iowa (1) - (4)

Box 3 - Speech File

• 10/21/76 - Swearing - in Ceremony - Federal Council on the Aging
• 10/29/76 - Wisconsin Education Association - Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1) - (2)
• 10/29/76 - Luther Ely Smith Park - St. Louis, Missouri
• 10/31/76 - Nassau Coliseum, Long Island
• 11/2/76 - Dedication of Gerald R. Ford Mural - Kent County Airport – Grand Rapids, Michigan
• 12/8/76 - Congressional Silver Medal Award to Brigadier General Charles E. Yeager
• 1/77 - President's Farewell Speech
• 1/5/77 - Cabinet Farewell Dinner Party
• 1/10/77 - Medal of Freedom Presentation - White House